Phonograph



E. A. WATSON.

PHONOGRAPH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9. 192|.

LASGQ.

E. A. WATSON.

PHONOGRAPH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9,192`l. 344369129@ Patented. Nov. 2L i922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l N VEN TOR. Zw/ Mmm/14 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 2l, 1922.

' narran stares EDWIN A. WATSON. OF MILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

PHONOGRAPH.

Application filed June 9,

To all whom it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, Enwinv A. lVATsoN, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Mill Valley, county of Marin. and State of California,have invented a new and useful Phonograph, of which the following is aspecication.

The present invention relates to improvements in sound reproducingmachines and its principal object is to provide a machine of thecharacter described that automatically begins to operate when the recordis placed on its seat and that automatically stops when the last grooveof the record has been reached. A further object of the invention is toprovide a mechanism by which the sounder carrying the needleautomatically finds its right place for records of different sizes.Another object is to provide a sounder that-will bring the needle intooperative contact with the first groove of the record only after therecord has made a number of turns and has acquired its full speed.Various other objects and advantages of my machine will appear as thedescription proceeds.

While in the drawings and the descrip` tion I confine myself to oneparticular embodiment of the principles involved, I do not wish to beunderstood as limiting my claims thereby, since I desire to be protectedon the broader principles underlying the construction of the particularmechanism illustrated.

Figure 1 represents a side view of the" principal Working parts of mysound reproducing machine; Figure 2, a sectional view through the samealong line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3, an enlarged detail side elevationof a sleeve travelling on a revolving rod; Figure 4, a perspective viewof the mechanism shown in Figure 3, and Figure 5 an enlarged detailview, partly in section, showing the main shaft and the parts associatedwith the same.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the vertical shaft 1 may receiverevolving motion from any appropriate source of power not shown in thedrawing. It carries a friction wheel 2 intermediate of its length,which, as will be seen later, serves the purposes of albrake. Somedistance above said brake, the shaft 1 is reduced in diameter andcarries a sleeve 3 which latter carries the record plate 4 and extendsabove the same a certain distance, this upper part being solid, with theexception that it is provided, right 1921. Serial N0. 476,199.

above the record plate, with a plurality of passages or slots 5 leadingfrom the hollow part of the sleeve upwardly and outwardly to a placesufficiently high above the record plate so that an equal plurality ofclamping pleces 6 working within the same are adapt- .ed to engage arecord placed on the plate at its upper surface when they are pushedupward and outward by the spring 7 bearing on them through the disk 8and connecting rods 9. The spring 7 rests on the top of the shaft l andis actuated by a downward pres- Isure on the record plate, The latter isof smaller size than the record and only large enough to be covered bythe ungrooved central part of the record.

The sleeve 3 is supported on the shaft by means of a second spring 1lwhich rests on the shoulder 12 formed where the shaft is reduced indiameter. On the sleeve the carriage. 12 is rotatably supported by meansof the ring 14 engaging both the sleeve and the carriage. The latter isprovided with two arms l5 and 16 extending into opposite directions. Thearm 15 carries at its end a roller 17, adapted to lfrictionally engageone arm of the lever 18 pivoted on a stationary support 19. The otherarm of the lever makes frictional contact with the brake wheel 2mentioned hereinbefore. The lever 1s actuated to engage the brake by thecarriage, the upper arm of the lever being curved so that an upwardmotion of the carriage forces that arm of the lever outward and theother arm into contact with the brake wheel. rIhe brake is released bythe spring 21 pulling the lower lever arm away from the brake wheel whenthe carriage ceases to bear on the upper arm. The lever at the same timeis adapted to lock the carriage in its downward position through asecond lever 22 secured to the carriage having a hook 23 which may beforced into engagement with al notch 24 in the lever 18 by a spring 26when the carriage is in its lowermost position.

The mechanism thus far described works as follows: To start theapparatus a record is laid on the record plate and pressed downward.This forces the sleeve 3 and its carriage downward. The shaft 1 beinincapable of vertical motion, the spring? presses the clamping pieces 6upward to rise above the record and to firmly hold the same by theirwedging action. The carriage which has come down with the sleeve 8, hasin the meantime released the brake by releasing the lever 18 and hasbecome locked in its lowermost position by the level` 22 engaging thenotch in the lever 18. Thus, the record is firmly held on the recordplate, the shaft is free to rotate and the carriage is in its lowermostposition.

The arm 16 of the carriage has a slot at its outer end which engages,through the pin 27, one end of a guide rod 28, the other end of which ispivotally secured in a stationary support, as shown at 29, in such amanner that the guide rod is substantially horizontal when the carriageis in its lowermost position. On this guide rod the sounder 31 isadapted to travel back and forth, which latter may be secured to a tonearm in any desired manner not shown in the drawing. The sounder isprovided with two needles, one of which, 32, is similar in every respectto the needle ordinarily used in phonographs, while the second one, 33,differs from the former in the fact that it is made of some materiallike wood, that does not scratch the record when engaging the grooves ofthe same. The latter needle, herenafter referred to as the guide needle,is secured to the end of a lever 34 somewhat elbow-shaped, pivoted inthe sounder as at 36. The object of this lever is two-fold. It draws thesounding needle into engagement with the grooves of the record and itsets the brake when the sounding needle has arrived at the end of therecord.

In describing the action of the sounder we have to distinguish betweenrecords of different sizes, say, a 10 inch and a 12 inch record.

Commencing with the 10 inch record we assume, that the latter has beenplaced on the plate and pressed downward. The sounder is in such aposition that its guide needle 33 engages the first groove of therecord, which, as we have seen before, starts to rotate immediately uponbeing pressed down.

The grooves being arranged spirally, the guide needle moves slowlytoward the center of the record along a radial line and turns the lever(34) on its pivot (36) until its lower end comes in contact with aprojection (40) secured to the sounder, Therey the lever (34) isprevented from turning any further on its pivot (36) and now forces thepivot, and with it the sounder, to partake of its motion in radialdirection along the guide rod (28) so that after a number ofrevolutions, when the record has attained full speed, the soundingneedle (32) will engage the first groove. When approaching the end ofthe record, the guide needle is the first to reach the last groove andcontinues to travel in the same, while the sounding needle ap roachesit, carrying the sounder with it. s the sounder moves rnd the guideneedle remains stationary, the lever 34 carrying the later begins topivot on'its supporting point, whereby the end .of its other arm 37rotating on the pivot 36 is brought in contactwith a projection 38 on asleeve 39 which is slidably mounted on a threaded shaft 41, the sleeveitself not being threaded. This shaft is supported in a casing 42 beingan integral part of the carriage and is rotated by means of a worm 43 onthe sleeve 3 engaging a worin gear 44 at the end of the shaft. Thesleeve 39 is prevented from rotating on the shaft 41 by a fork 46extending upwardly from the sleeve and engaging the guide rod. Vhen thearm 37 comes in contact with the projection 38, it forces the sleeveforward towards the carrier. But it will be remembered that the lowerend of the arm 37 moves along a substantially circular ath around thepivot 36 so that when reaching a certain point on its path it escapesthe projection. At that time the roller 47 at the end of the projection40 begins to bear against the curved end 48 of a lever 49 pivoted on thesleeve, the end being adapted to be forced into the bottom of one 'ofthe threads on the shaft 41 through a slot 51 in the sleeve by saidroller. As soon as'this lever thus engages the thread the sleeve travelsforward again on the revolving shaft 4l until its fork 46 comes incontact with a push rod 52 sliding in a sleeve 53 rigidly secured to thecarriage, and pushes the other end of said push rod against the upperarm of the lever 22, thereby disengaging the latter from the lever 18over the resistance of 100 the spring 26. As soon as this lever isreleased, the carriage is forced upward by the spring 11 and the rolleron the arm 15 forces the upper arm of the lever 18 outward and the lowerarm in contact with the brake wheel, thereby stopping the rotory motionof the shaft.

The rising of the carriage brings the guide rod 28 into closer proximitywith the shaft 41, so that a projection 55 below the guide 110Y rod,which just cleared the lever 49 on the sleeve 39 when the carriage wasin its lowermost position, bears down on said lever when the carriagerises and thereby forces the arm 48 of said lever from its engagementwith 115 the threads on the shaft 41, so that now the spring 54 canforce the sleeve 39 back again to its original position. At the sainetime the sounder 31 slides back on the slanting guide rod until stoppedby the lever 56.

The lever 56 is introduced in my mechanism in order to make the sameadjustable for larger, for instance 12 inch records. It is elbow-shapedand its elbow pivots on a stationary support arranged outside the path125 of the sounder so. that the latter would pass the lever-and itssupport ifit was not for a catch 57 which extends sideways bfrom thesounder and is so constructed that it engages one arm 60 of the. lever56, which latter arm 130 nasales is curved downwardly.y When thetransverse pin 61 of the catch comes in contact wlth` the upper face oithe leVerarm, it presses the lsame downward so that the latter slidesinto the' catch until its point or toe y 63 strikesl thestop 59 inthebottom of the catch. Being in this position,it effectivelyv ,stcsilanyfurther movement of the'sounder.

ile the said armvl of the leverv was brought down, the other arm 61,ofthe same lever was thrown upward 'suiiciently high to come in -contactwith and be pressed downward by a largerecord placed on'the,

lInatically adjusts itself` to the size of the record, automaticallyreleases the brake,

I -automatically brings the record up to its full speed before thesounding needle is engaged, then engages the soundin needle,automatically-stops the rotation o the record, returns the needle to itsoriginal position and sets the brake, leaving for the operator only theone operation of placing the record on the plate and pressing down onit.

I- claim:

1. A sound reproducing machine comprising a rotary shaft, a brake forsaid shaft and means for releasing the same, a sleeve carrying a-plateslidably secured on said shaft, a record adapted to be pressed on saidplate and to' thereby actuate the brake release, Ia carriage rotatablymounted'on said sleeve, a guide rod pivoted. in a stationarysupportp1votally associatedvwith said carriage, a'sounder slidable onsaid guiderod, a

needle associated with said sounderadapted to operatively engage -therecord and to cause the sounder to travel on the ide rod,

means actuated by the needle at t e end of its travel adapted to set thebrake, and means for returning the plate toits original position. v t'2. In a sound reproducing machine of the character described, a rotarshaft, abrake for said shaft, and means or releasingthe` 4 same, asleeve carrying a plate slidably secured on said shaft, and meansassociated with said sleeve adapted to actuate said brake releasingmeans when said Plate is be- -ing pressed upon.

3. In a sound reproducing machine of the character described, a rotaryshaft, a brake for said shaft, a sleeve slidably .secured on said shaft,and an operative connection be tween said sleeve and said brake,including spring mea-ns for setting the brake and spring means forreleasing the same when the sleeve is pressed downward.

4:. In a sound reproducing machine 'of the character described, a rotavertical shaft, a sleeve carrying a plate slidably secured on saldshaft, said plate being adapted to carry a record, and spring-actuatedclamping means within said sleeve adapted to extend through the wall of.the sleeve, when the latter yis pressed downwardly so as'to grip therecord and'bind the same to the plate.

5.v In a sound reproducing machineof the character described, averticalrotary shaft, a brake for said shaft, Ya sleeve carrying a plateslidably secured on said shaft, said plate-being adapted to carryavrecord, an operative connection between said sleeve and said brake,including spring means for setting the brake, sprin means for lreleasingthe same when the p ate is pressed downward, and spring-actuatedclamping means within said sleeve vadapted to simultaneously extendthrough the wall of the sleeve, so as to grip the record and bind thesame to the plate.

6. In a sound reproducing machine of the I character described, avertical rotary shaft,

-a brake for said shaft, a sleeve carrying a plate slidably secured onsaid shaft, said plate being adapted to carry arecord, an operativeconnection between said sleeve and said brake, including spring meansfor setting and spring means for releasing the brake, locking Ameans formaintaining the brake released,a sounder, and means associated with thelsounder for releasing said locking means at predetermined times.

7 In a sound reproducing machine of the character described, averticalrotary shaft,

'a brake for said shaft, a sleeve carrying a v plate slidably secured onsaid shaft, said plate being adapted'to carry a record, an operative.connection between said sleeve and said brake, including spring meansfor settin and spring means for releasing the bra e, spring actuatedclamping means within said sleeve adapted to simultaneously eX- tendthrough the wall of the sleeve so as to grip the record vand bind thesame to. the plate, lockingmeans for holding said sleeve 1n its seat, asounder, and means associated with the sounder, 'for releasing the'locking means at predetermined times.

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8. Ina sound reproducing machine, a rec- Y ord, means for rotating thesame, a guide rod in operative proximity to said record, a sounderslidable thereon, a guiding needle and a sounding needle associated'withsaid sounder, said guiding needle being adapted to en age a groove inthe record, to draw the soun ing needle into engagement with the oovesof the record and to stop the rotating means when the sounding needlearrives at theI end of the record.

9. In a sound reproducing machine, a record, means for rotating thesame, a brake associated with said rotating means for stopping saidrecord, av guide. rod in operative able on saidshaft adapted to normalyset` the brake but to release' thesame upon being pressed downward.`means for ocking sald sleeve` in 1ts downward pos1t1on,'a carriagerotatablgy7 secured on said sleeve, a f guide rod having one endpivote'd in a' stationary sunoortand onejend'in the carriage a sounderslidable n the guide rod adapted to engage the record and to release thesleeve locking meansv so as to'set the brake when arriving at the end ofthe record.

11. In a sound reproducing machine, aerotary shaft, a record securedthereto, a brake for said shaft, a sleeve vertically slidable on saidshaft adapted to'normally set thebrake but to. release thesame uponbeing pressed downward, means for locking said sleeve in its downwardosition, acarriage rotatably secured on sai sleeve, a guidel rod havingone end pivoted'in a .stationary support and one end in the carriage, asounder slidable onfthe guiderod, a Vguiding' needle and a v soundingneedle assoclated y with sounder, said guidin 'needle being adaptedrawsaid

to engage agroove 1n t-he record, to

the sounding .needle into en agement with the grooves of the record angto release the sleeve locking means so as to set the brake when arrivingatgthe end of the record.

12. In a sound re roduc'ing machine, a rotating record, a gui ed tocause the sounder to travel towards'the centerof the record, automaticmeans for causing the sounder to travel in the opposite direction andanautomatic stop lfor said sounder adapted to be actuated by a largerrecordplaced on the machine to allow the sounder to pass. so as largerrecord. Y

13; In a sound reproducing machine, a rotating record, a guide rod in oerative rox- .lmity thereto, a sounder slldab e'on sai rec- '0rd,the'grooves on the record being adapted to cause the sounder to traveltowards the center of the record, automatic meansfor causing the sounderto travel in the opposite direction and a lever pivotally supportedadapted -to stopsaid sounder and to be ac tuated by a larger recordplaced on the machine to allow the 'sounder to pass so as to adjustitself to the larger record.

' EDWIN A. WATSON.

erod inoperative proximity thereto, a sounderslidable on said rec-l lord, the grooves on the record being adaptto adjust itself tothe a

